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A bamboo-backed bow by local bowyer Anton de Witt Mac Muller recently had the opportunity to test a bamboo-backed longbow made by Anton de Witt. Read on to see the results of his tests and how he experienced shooting an all wooden bow. ... Read More |
| 23 January 2012 | |
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The Native American Indian In life there is always one movie that really stands out and has an immense impact on one's life. Anton de Witt writes about the impact such a film had on him and how it sent him on an archery journey. ... Read More |
| 23 January 2012 | |
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Johan van der Merwe boogbouer van die Bosveld Johan van der Merwe is 'n buitemens. Dit besef jy baie gou as jy die man agter Combretum Tradisionele Boë se spoor vat. ... Read More |
| 23 January 2012 | |
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"Blind Baling" – the traditional archer's friend Mac Muller explains the use of the "blind baling" technique in perfecting one's shooting form with the traditional bow. ... Read More |
| 23 January 2012 | |
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A blue wildebeest at last light Rean Steenkamp tells how he shot a blue wildebeest with his 54-pound recurve just as darkness was settling over the blind ... Read More |
| 4 October 2011 | |
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What a great experience! Brian Dean writes about attending the IBO Traditional World Championships in the USA during July .... Read More |
| 4 October 2011 | |
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The pleasures of being a self-sufficient bow hunter Rean Steenkamp writes about the joys of making your own bow – of being a self-sufficient archer or bow hunter..... Read More |
| 15 August 2011 | |
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The role of the traditional bow in the archery world Anton de Wit disagrees with a writer who argues that the traditional longbow is 'history'..... Read More |
| 15 August 2011 | |
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The bubble popped – but I still have the bow! Roelf Swanepoel tells of his project to make a really unique and original bow, and how he eventually discovered that the idea was neither unique nor original..... Read More |
| 15 August 2011 | |
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Bushcraft: understanding animal behaviour – part 4 Bushcraft: understanding animal behaviour – part 5 Bushcraft: understanding animal behaviour – part 6 |
| 15 August 2011 | |
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Is traditional bow hunting on death row? The new Norms and Standards for Hunting Methods was recently published. They make it nearly impossible for women to hunt...... Read More |
| 15 August 2011 | |
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Só las mens koolstofpyle vir tradisionele boë Bernard Wessels beskryf 'n manier om gebreekte koolstofpyle te las en so heelwat te bespaar op die koste van nuwe pyle..... Read More |
| 15 August 2011 | |
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Waarom aansluit by TASA? TASA staan vir Traditional Archers of South Africa. Rean Steenkamp sê waarom elke langboog- of kurfboogskut by die organisasie moet aansluit.... Read More |
| 15 August 2011 | |
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The thirty best recurves This article was "lifted", with permission, from the German magazine 3-D Bogensport (issue 1/2011). It showcases and gives specifications on 30 recurve bows..... Read More |
15 August 2011 |
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Herskepper van die tradisionele Johnny Snyman bou nie net tradisionele boë nie, hy laat die eienskappe en romantiek van antieke wapens herrys vir moderne skuts. Maar wie is die man agter die naam? Herman Jonker het met hom gaan gesels.... Read More |
23 May 2011 |
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The Sterkrivier shoot: Viktor Kühn writes about this year’s annual traditional shoot on the farm of Henk and Gerda du Plessis... Read More |
23 May 2011 |
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The traditional bow is also evolving Many believe the traditional bow stopped evolving with the invention of the compound, but this is undoubtedly not true, writes Rean Steenkamp.... Read More |
20 May 2011 |
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Bushcraft: Preparing and administering natural medicines In this monthly instalment of his series on bushcraft, Cleve Cheney discusses the preparation and administering of natural medicines.... Read More |
20 May 2011 |
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Sticks, strings and shooting aerial targets Johnny Snyman writes about the joys, advantages and limitations of shooting a traditional bow.... Read More |
20 May 2011 |
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Bow building: some do’s and don’ts Francois Squirra gives would-be bowyers some tips on the basics of bow building.... Read More |
20 May 2011 |
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Die lewe saam met ’n boog Francois Squirra vertel van sy vrou Cornelia se eerste bok, en filosofeer oor die verhouding tussen die mens en die boog.... Read More |
14 March 2011 |
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Bow Profile: three-piece T/D longbow from Grizzly Bows LLC Mike “Grizz” Viguera, the bowyer and owner of Grizzly Bows LLC, is a retired industrial electrician who has been building longbows for nine years. Mike is now 58 ... Read More |
14 March 2011 |
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Horseback archery: an exhilirating new sport Johnny Snyman tells about the coming introduction of horseback archery to South Africa... Read More |
14 March 2011 |
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Brain tanning: a unique and useful process Neil Meggersee explains how to brain-tan an animal hide to obtain a unique material called buckskin... Read More |
13 January 2011 |
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Building bows, building character Francois Squirra tells how the making of two bows took him down a path of self-discovery and self-fulfilment... Read More |
13 January 2011 |
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Why traditional archery? Johnny Snyman writes about traditional bows and the unique, inspired people who shoot them.. Read More |
13 January 2011 |
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A string in need is handy indeed! Rean Steenkamp tells how he managed to damage his bow string just before a hunt, and how two bow-expert friends made him a new string with hardly any tools or equipment. Read More |
13 January 2011
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Twee vroue, twee jagtogte Marilize Kühn tells of her first hunt and how she bagged a blue wildebeest with her traditional bow. Read More |
19 October, 2010 |
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Comparing our “local manne” with the world’s best What is it about a beautifully crafted traditional bow that sets one’s heart beating? Some say the bow has life because of the natural wood. It is war... Read More |
19 October, 2010 |
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Pyn in die bene, vark aan die haak! D’Uard van Zyl vertel hoe hy ’n bosvark gejag het op ’n wintersaand in Noord-Natal, en op sy hurke moes sit totdat hy alle gevoel in sy bene verloor het.... Read More |
| 16 August, 2010 | |
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Some useful hints on arrow making Renowned bowyer Johnny Snyman shares some of his expertise with readers of Africa’s Bowhunter.... Read More |
| 16 August, 2010 | |
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Shooting with a thumb ring: a beginner’s impressions Johan Rabie tells of his first efforts at using a thumb ring to shoot his Nomad horsebow... Read More |
16 August, 2010 |
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A longbow, a hot day, a bushbuck Australian bow hunter Andrew Ivy tells how, on a hunting trip to South Africa, he hunted a bushbuck with his longbow... Read More |
13 July, 2010 |
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Carbon Elite Longbow
The Centaur longbows can be ordered in bow lengths of 54, 56, 58, 60 and 62 inches and in a right-hand or a left-hand version. The reviewed Carbon Elite is the performance-enhanced... Read More |
13 July, 2010 |
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Bandages for your bowstring loops Johnny Snyman, well-known writer on bow matters and one of South Africa’s best-known bowyers, gives a tip on the protection of string loops on traditional bows... Read More |
13 July, 2010 |
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Voetspore oor ’n Kalahari-sandduin Francois Squirra gesels oor die instandhouding en hergebruik van houtpyle... Read More |
14 June, 2010
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Bushcraft: know your plants – part 4 Cleve Cheney continues his series on plants with a discussion of the properties and uses of the well-known sickle bush.... Read More |
14 June, 2010 |
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Traditional Tips by Derek Nourse Hand placement Hand placement on your bow is important – very important, in fact. Incorrect placement can result in arrows going off to one side, which might be interpreted as incorrect arrow spine. Hand placement must be the... Read More |
| 14 June, 2010 | |
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The Sterkrivier shoot – camaraderie and fun all round! Viktor Kühn describes this year’s Sterkrivier shoot – which is the annual event on the calendar for the traditional archer... Read More |
14 June, 2010 |
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Bushcraft: know your plants – part 3 Cleve Cheney discusses the properties and uses of the well-known raisin bush. ... Read More |
28 April, 2010 |
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Hunting arrows for longbows –
aluminiums or wood? Johannes Schabort discusses the advantages and disadvantages of aluminium arrows vs wooden arrows when hunting with a longbow ... Read More |
28 April, 2010 |
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Blue wildebeest hunt at Cheetah Safaris Africa’s Bowhunter recently visited Cheetah Safaris, a 5000-hectare game reserve 260 kilometres from Pretoria. Publisher Rean Steenkamp gives a review of his stay on the ranch and how he shot a blue wildebeest with his recurve ... Read More |
28 April, 2010 |
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The archer’s thumb ring – part 4 In the fourth article of his series on the archer’s thumb ring, Johnny Snyman tells how to make your own ring. ... Read More |
15 March, 2010 |
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Bushcraft: know your plants – part 1 In this article of his series on bushcraft, Cleve Cheney discusses the identification and use of plants, giving special attention to the marula. ... Read More |
15 March, 2010 |
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The traditional longbow – how good is it really? Johannes Schabort reflects on the merits of the traditional bow vs the compound bow, and concludes that one should approach the matter with an outlook of “to each his own”. ... Read More |
15 March, 2010 |
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TASA – an organisation for the traditional archer Brian Dean describes the objectives of a new organisation exclusively for traditional archers ... Read More |
15 Feb, 2010 |
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Which bowyer, what bow? – a layman’s guide Viktor Kuhn writes on South African bowyers, their skills, and their products. ... Read More |
15 Feb, 2010 |
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Bushcraft: learning to improvise - part 4 In the fourth article of his series on survival techniques, Cleve Cheney looks at the usefulness of various types of bone. ... Read More |
15 Feb, 2010 |
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The archer’s thumb ring, part 3 In the third article of his series on the archer’s thumb ring, Johnny Snyman continues his discussion of shooting technique using the ring – including the types of arrows that can be used ... Read More |
15 Feb, 2010 |
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About archery and canoes Chris Green reflects on some lessons he learnt from canoes..... Read More |
10 Dec, 2009 |
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Hunting kudu with a Scythian recurve During the 2009 hunting season Rean Steenkamp hunted much, but to little avail. However, he says, the two animals he did kill made up for the many times he had no success.... Read More |
10 Dec, 2009 |
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Indian arrow heads and tools Robin Barkes tells of a trip to the United States, during which he had the opportunity to collect a number of ancient Indian arrow heads and other implements.... Read More |
10 Dec, 2009 |
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The archer’s thumb ring – part 1 In the first of three articles on the archer’s thumb ring, Johnny Snyman looks at some aspects of the history of the bow.... Read More |
10 Dec, 2009 |
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The archer’s thumb ring – part 2 In the second article of his series on the archer’s thumb ring, Johnny Snyman discusses shooting technique... Read More |
10 Dec, 2009 |
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Bowstrings, part 3 – making your own In part three of his series om bowstrings, Cleve Cheney explains how to make your own endless-loop string.... Read More |
10 Dec, 2009 |
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Bowstrings part II:
modern bowstring
materials In part 2 of his series on bowstrings, Cleve Cheney looks at the various materials used for making modern strings.... Read More |
10 Dec, 2009 |
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Bowstrings part 1: bowstring basics Starting a new series, Cleve Cheney looks at bowstrings – the requirements for a good string and the materials such strings are made of... Read More |
| 07 October, 2009 | |
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3Rivers introduces new broadhead 3Rivers Archery, the world’s largest supplier of traditional and primitive archery equipment, has introduced its new Woodsman Elite broadhead to the market. The head is machined from tool-grade steel and features solid, one-piece ... Read More |
| 07 October, 2009 | |
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Predator celebrates 20 years with limited-edition take-down recurve To commemorate 20 years of producing its popular recurve bows, Predator, from Michigan in the USA, is offering a limited-edition model that builds on the bow’s field-proven performance legacy. ... Read More |
| 07 October, 2009 | |
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Bow Profile: Traditional Slam T/D Recurve Bow from Palmer Bow Company Bow Specs: Model: Traditional Slam T/D Recurve bow Length: 60 inches Draw weight: 49,5 pounds at 28 inches.. Read More |
| 15 Sept, 2009 | |
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Why traditional? |
| 15 Sept, 2009 | |
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Building bows, making friends Chris Green, along with several other archery enthusiasts, attended a bow-building workshop at the home of Jaco Wessels.. Read More |
| 15 Sept, 2009 | |
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The 2009 Sterkrivier shoot The Sterkrivier Shoot held every year on the farm of Henk and Gerda du Plessis is an institution amongst traditional archers in South Africa and offers the wonderful prospect of three days of camping and archery in one ... Read More |
23 June, 2009 |
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Kobus Kleynhans – a true traditionalist Often, at archery competitions, I have heard people asking Kobus: “How long have you been shooting a bow and arrow?”, and his standard response is: “I have a photo of me shooting a bow at round about the age of eleven!”... Read More |
23 June, 2009 |
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Are you a gear junkie? |
Are you a gear junkie? In conversation with an archery friend recently, we found ourselves discussing arrows and he revealed that he ‘has a habit’. “Chris, I buy a few hundred rands’ worth of arrows a month!” After my initial surprise I had to admit to myself that I have always been on the search for the ultimate hunting jacket – one that I can almost get away with wearing to friends for dinner, .... Read More |
22 June, 2009 |
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Kindred to the bow: the blowgun Want to put your skills to the test with a different kind of man-powered weapon? Give blowgun hunting a try. Blowguns have been around for hundreds, if not thousands of years, and have been used for hunting by indigenous people in North and South America, Asia, Africa, and Europe. ... Read More |
22 June, 2009 |
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Shooting the longbow I cannot believe that it was two years ago that I made that shot. It was the North Gauteng Bowhunter championships and I was shooting with four or five other guys. On the way from one target to the next, we entered an open field .... Read More |
| 23 April, 2009 | |
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A bow is a bow – right? “As a young man, when in need of a bow I took my heavy hunting knife and an axe, whistled up my trained hounds and headed out into the wilderness. Once there, after several trials and .... Read More |
| 23 April, 2009 | |
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Knifecraft for the hunter – part 1 A good knife is one the most useful bush and survival tools. However, its usefulness is, by and large, determined by the user and his skill in the maintenance and use of it. A knife is also a dangerous weapon and can inflict serious .... Read More |
| 23 April, 2009 | |
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Knifecraft for the hunter – part 2, safety It goes without saying that knives are potentially deadly weapons and can inflict serious or fatal injury by accident or by design. Many accidents with knives are caused by recklessness or ineptness and a good hunter should ... Read More |
22 June, 2009 |
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Knifecraft: more safety precautions We spoke about knife safety in our last article. One thing about a blunt knife is that it is not too dangerous. On the other hand a blunt knife is not much use for survival or general use. A razor-sharp knife is a very dangerous weapon and, ... Read More |
22 June, 2009 |
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Axecraft – Limbing and sectioning We have seen thus far in this series on axecraft what a useful and often neglected tool an axe is, and that not much has been written about its correct and effective use. We conclude the series by looking at limbing ... Read More |
| 23 April, 2009 | |
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Axe craft - Felling trees - Part 2 Trees are used for many purposes, some of the most important being to provide timber for dwellings and the manufacture of furniture, boats, wagons, tools or implements. Trees can be felled using a chainsaw, handsaw or axe... Read More |
| 23 April, 2009 | |
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Bows from green wood – Part 4 Three plies are sufficient for most draw weights. The gut is washed and cleaned and then one end of the prospective string is suspended from a dowel stick or a tree branch, which must be positioned at a longer distance from the ... Read More |
| 23 March, 2009 | |
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Bows from green wood – Part 3 Those who are interested in traditional and primitive archery may find themselves wondering how the ancients made bows and how Stone Age man managed to fashion weapons that equal the modern fibreglass weapons sold in hunting and archery stores. The answer is that the ancients often made their bows from... Read More |
| 23 March, 2009 | |
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Dynamic spine and building heavy arrows After various and long discussions and investigations with fellow archers, and some investigation on my part, I have come to realise how little we know about dynamic spine. In case you didn’t know, there are two types of spine: .. Read More |
| 18 February, 2009 | |
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Using an axe to fell trees (Part 1) Felling trees is a risky and dangerous business which can result in serious injury or death. Without experience it may be prudent to fell only straight trees smaller than 30 centimetres in diameter and on level ground... Read More |
| 18 February, 2009 | |
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Bows from green wood – Part 2 Those who are interested in traditional and primitive archery may find themselves wondering how the ancients made bows and how Stone Age man managed to fashion weapons that equal ... Read More |
| 18 February, 2009 | |
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Guns and bows – an account of a hunting season |
| 20 January, 2009 | |
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Axe etiquette and general safety A sharp axe can be dangerous if left lying on the ground as it can easily slice open a foot or ankle. See Figure 1. Choose a convenient tree at the campsite which affords some protection from the elements where all tools will be kept or, if you have a spare tent, store tools in the. .… Read More |
20 January, 2009 |
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Bushcraft: Axe craft part 3 You are out in the bush and your axe handle breaks. One of the challenges of replacing an axe handle is to remove the old one, which can be a major undertaking. .… Read More |
22 October, 2008 |
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Momentum vs kinetic energy for dummies:
How a traditional bow kills I hunt with a traditional bow and when I looked at the table, I realised that I was restricted to hunting animals in the 40 foot-pound group. For an aspiring bowhunter these are the most difficult to hit, if you encounter them within shooting distance, that is .… Read More |
22 October, 2008 |
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History book hunt In the August issue of ABH&A I related the story of the very first buck I took with a muzzle-loader. The impala ram fell to a single shot from my .58-calibre Mississippi rifle and .… Read More |
22 October, 2008 |
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Buschcraft: Axecraft part2 What do you call a blunt axe? A hammer. That may be a bit “tongue in cheek”, but a blunt axe is pretty useless as a cutting and chopping tool. A good bushman should know how to sharpen an axe so that it can be used effectively for what it was designed for.… Read More |
22 October, 2008 |
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The art of walk and stalk I arrive to find the rains have beaten me, however. In fact, the rain came to the bushveld six weeks early. Blind and tree stand hunting at waterholes is suddenly out of the question, as there’s standing water everywhere.… Read More |
22 October, 2008 |
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Walking Thabazimbi I arrive to find the rains have beaten me, however. In fact, the rain came to the bushveld six weeks early. Blind and tree stand hunting at waterholes is suddenly out of the question, as there’s standing water everywhere.… Read More |
22 October, 2008 |
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The 2008 “HAVE BOW, WILL TRAVEL” tour rolls on At a recent Southern Trophy Hunter’s Big Buck Expo in Lakeland, Florida, I performed a series of shows that still have me thinking about just how lucky I am to be in the sport of archery. I love it when everything “clicks” and I shoot well, and that weekend the shooting was smoking hot!… Read More |
21 August, 2008 |
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Bare-bow hunt at Blinkwater I have been shooting traditional bows for quite a while now. The longbow, especially, has a mystery about it that fascinates me. Something is stirred inside you when you walk in the veld with a bare bow in the hand. If the two of you bond, you will become friends… Read More |
21 August, 2008 |
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BUSHCRAFT: Axe Craft Part 1 Much is written about knives as a survival tool but very little can be found on one of the most useful of all bush and survival tools – the axe. Apart from fire, little else contributes more significantly to living comfortably … Read More |
21 August, 2008 |
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Bow Profile: Take-Down Hybrid Bow from Black Swan Archery Bow specs: Model: T/D hybrid bow Length: 64 inches Draw weight: 54 pounds at 28 inches Brace height: seven to 7 1/2 inches Physical weight: two pounds (complete bow) … Read More |
21 August, 2008 |
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Bow profile: Hunter Bicentennial Elite recurve bow from Bob Lee Archery Personal comments: This short 54-inch recurve bow is the ideal partner for tight quarters like tree stands and ground blinds. You really can see the years of experience that went into the bow's design when you look at the force-draw curve. The f-d curve is comparable to those of longer recurve bows … Read More |
20 August, 2008 |
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Blackpowder blesbok It is often said that history repeats itself. Well, when it comes to hunting my first animals with a bow and with a blackpowder rifle it certainly did to a remarkable extend. It was quite a few years ago that I set off to Lichtenburg to hunt a sprinbok with my first compound bow, a PSE Stringray. I was to hunt on Oom Tinus Diederick’s farm… Read More |
20 August, 2008 |
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Jaco wins silver at World Championships Well-known South African traditional archer Jaco Wessels recently won a silver medal at the World Field Archery Championships held in Namibia. He had this to say about his experience… Read More |
14 May, 2008 |
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Sterkrivier traditional competition 2008 No fewer than 91 archers competed during this year’s Sterkrivier Shoot, the biggest since the competition was first held eleven years ago… Read More |
14 May, 2008 |
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Bow Profile: Kingfisher Recurve Bow Manufacturer: Hummingbird Custom Bows 9631 Vineyard Road Mt. Pleasant, NC 28124 www.Hummingbirdbows.com Price: $1,000.00 … Read More |
14 May, 2008 |
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The mystery of the vest It is absolutely necessary for a muzzleloader hunter always to carry specific loading elements to keep his gun in action. On the shooting range this is no problem and shooters will be seen returning to their vehicles again and again or scratching around in boxes or bags. But out in the bush everything needed is … Read More |
14 May, 2008 |
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Kudu memories No one can dispute the beauty of the kudu. With its double helix horns, face paint, long graceful legs, and the ridge of hair down the centre of its back, the kudu is what most first time African bowhunters seek to take home..... Read More |
31/03/08 |
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GO
TO THE TOP ----- Updated:
Monday, January 23, 2012 12:45 PM
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Heartwood
Bows
Johnny Snyman:
Bowyer
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Norsemen Archery, producer of the finest traditional bows has relocate to 285 Queen Elizabeth Ave, Manor Gardens, 4001. Land line 031 2617405. Circumstances beyond my control caused my cell number change, which is now 0741395598. My apologies if you have not been able to contact me. The move necessitated a sale. There are a complete range of goods, so please enquire. |
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| ARTICLES | |
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Extreme bowhunting It is a grand thing to be a hunter in Africa. You go out there and become part of nature. The trappings of civilisation are left behind. Whatever role you may have played under ceilings, surrounded by walls and interacting with people..... Read More |
31/03/08 |
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The Appeal of the Traditional Bow “Why?” This is the question I am often asked when archers see me with my traditional longbow. That’s before they ask, “How do you aim?” and my personal favourite: “Where does the stabiliser fit?”..... Read More |
31/03/08 |
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Should we poison our arrows? Poison. From a Western perspective, the term does not exactly conjure up images of happy families opening up presents under the Christmas tree. No, this little word brings with it thoughts of underhanded dealings, stealthy murders, assassinations, pain and extended suffering. Hooded figures concealing little glass..... Read More |
31/03/08 |
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Legends, arrows and elephants As African adventurers go, it is quite likely that nobody has ever really entered into the spirit of hunting with quite the level of enthusiasm, confidence, optimism and raw courage demonstrated by the white hunters of old. ..... Read More |
25/01/08 |
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Bowyer for Hollywood Johnny Snyman, a bowyer and traditional archery icon in South Africa, has caught the attention of international film producers. Soon his bows will be seen on the big screen. .... Read More |
25/01/08 |
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Funshooting with a traditional bow We are approaching the festive season, schools will be closing soon and many people will be going on vacation. This means there will be lots of free time available, time that can be well-spent enjoying archery .... Read More |
25/01/08 |
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Using a powerful bow Almost every archer has at one time or another considered using a really powerful bow. Apart from the purely macho appeal of raw power, there is also the fact that a more powerful bow enables a heavier arrow to be shot faster at a flatter trajectory. This in turn translates to .... Read More |
25/01/08 |
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BOW PROFILE: ACS-CX T/S LONGBOW Multiple layers of black and white glass and three layers of highly figured bocote for the overlay, centre and grip area are laid up and bonded in an aluminium mould before the riser is shaped on a CNC milling machine. The arrangement of the contrasting layers of wood and fibreglass not only makes for a pleasing optical appearance .... Read More |
07/11/02 |
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Skin a buck with a golfball People always laugh at me when I tell them I could skin a buck with a golf ball or round stone of the same size. I don’t mind the gutting part of hunting, but really dislike skinning. However, this way .... Read More |
07/11/02 |
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The riddle of the stones Most people are familiar with what we know today as “bushman stones”. These flat round stones have a hole drilled through the centre and it is commonly thought that ancient bushmen made them to add weight to their digging sticks. .... Read More |
07/11/02 |
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Building a bow for your child made easy Chris was a carpentry teacher some time ago, and when I spoke to him about ABH&A, he told me that he was building two bows for his nephews, Pierre (12) and Robert (10). What struck me was that he said both would only cost R40 .... Read More |
07/11/02 |
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Hunting
with a longbow You took up bow hunting because you wanted a challenge, having hunted extensively with a scope-equipped rifle. You acquired a compound bow and had success, most probably from a hide. ... Read More |
July
31, 2007 |
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“Let’s
burn some powder, boys” Take any man or woman who is wild at heart. Mix ‘em with armloads of a genre commonly known as Western novels. Sprinkle gently with a tin sheriff badge, a pair of worn-out cowboy boots with spurs, and a belt buckle sporting a longhorn... Read More |
July
31, 2007 |
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Shooting
straight There are many ways to shoot a bow, although I sometimes use some unconventional methods in my archery shows. Why? I like to show audiences examples of instinctive shooting and prove that with instinctive shooting I am looking only at the target.... Read More |
May
30, 2007 |
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Shooting
at Sterkrivier My old trusted pickup truck hummed softly on the road while I sat in silent amazement looking at “Hangklip”, a beautiful mountain escarpment overlooking the entire Sterkrivier.... Read More |
May
30, 2007 |
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The
basics of black powder In the previous article we examined the parallels between archery and black powder shooting and hopefully some archers have seen that there is space in their arsenal for a muzzleloader of... Read More |
March
30, 2007 |
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Snuffers
from Rothhaar Rian Horn recently interviewed Ryan Rothhaar from Rothhaar Snuffers and ask him a few questions about this well-known treeblade broadhead... Read More |
March
29, 2007 |
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Sterkrivier
- tent annual traditional comprtition |
March
29, 2007 |
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My
first traditional kill Hunting with traditional equipment for the first time is a serious matter and takes months of preparation. Believe it or not, but back in 1998 I had to make sure the necessary documentation was in place, and even had to apply for a permit that would allow me to hunt with a traditional bow. I still have that... Read More |
Feb
1, 2007 |
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The
dawn came, and so did the jackal The song of birds awakened me the next morning and after a quick cup of coffee, I was on my way to the hide with Eddie, then my PH and now also my friend. I felt time making room for a new type of order that is so much deeper and timeless; I could feel freedom’s call luring me to being wild again... Read More |
Dec
18, 2006 |
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Blue
wildebeest down I was pretty excited as I rushed home from work early Friday afternoon to pack the last of my hunting gear. We all met at the home of my friend Rean Steenkamp before departing to Johan Pont’s farm for my last hunt... Read More |
August
24, 2006 |
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The
traditional bow – stronger than you may believe We will probably never end the debate around the traditional bow versus the compound bow. The same goes for bowhunting and rifle hunting. Whatever our arguments are, I believe we often compare apples with pears... Read More |
August
24, 2006 |
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Another
bowhunt in perspective What makes the difference between an extremely successful traditional bowhunt and an experience that you would rather not talk about? You know you are going to get those questions ... Read More |
August
2, 2006 |
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Shooting
wildebeest at Sterkrivier It was late dusk when the blue wildebeest finally came in. I knew I would have to make good the shot, since it would soon be dark. The animal was standing only ten yards ... Read More |
June
27, 2006 |
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A
good hunt for the traditional guys |
June
27, 2006 |
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Who
says a longbow isn’t good enough? |
May
22, 2006 |
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Moonshining
your bow and arrows There are quite a few ways in which you can seal a wooden bow and arrows. Varnish, wax, fat and various blends of linseed, tung, cedar and other oils, and French polish, which incidentally, is a mixture of shellac and linseed oil. However, I noticed a pretty interesting .... Read More |
May
22, 2006 |
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Wisdom
and The Wooden Bow The wind whispered gently through the forest. Upon her silky voice she cradled the subtle promise of another summer to come, her unseen hands silently drawing the curtains of a window on the beautiful distant horizon. Aloft, the canopies swayed gently to a rhythm understood only .... Read More |
April
21, 2006 |
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Meet
Juliette Reid of Minerva Arrows There seems to be renewed interest worldwide in the enriched values held by traditions. Similarly, there is an increasing interest in traditional archery in South Africa .... Read More |
March
30, 2006 |
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Teen
bowhunter bags his first kill I have been shooting with a traditional bow for two years, and have always toyed with the idea of shooting a buck. My dream was rekindled when my older cousins (Niekie, Barry and Jan-Louis) invited me on my first hunt during the July holidays.I couldn’t believe my ears; I was going on my first hunt. Before .... Read More |
March
6, 2006 |
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Redemption The South African springbok was one of the first animals I had the good fortune of harvesting upon beginning to hunt the Dark Continent. It was during the late morning on day three of my first African hunt. I sat in a pit blind at Howard Knott's Tshipise Game Reserve along with my PH, Robbie Guthrie. I was a bit discouraged, having just .... Read More |
February
2, 2006 |
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Reflections
on the longbow When analyzing the history of archery it is interesting to note that bows and arrows are found in practically every part of the world. A notable exception is Australia where everything developed very differently when compared to neighbouring continents which in many respects still seems to be thes.... Read More |
February
2, 2006 |
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Getting
started with a traditional bow – and having a lot of fun Let me state at the outset, shooting a traditional bow is a lot of fun. Once you have a bow and arrows, what is the best way to go about shooting this simple equipment? Nock an arrow, pull back the string and let go, while hoping that it does not miss the butt and disappear into long grass.... Read More |
January
26, 2006 |
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Jaco
Wessels – a traditional archery icon Few bowhunters are as dedicated and adept at longbow archery and hunting as Jaco Wessels, an icon in South African traditional archery. Jaco was only 15 years old when he decided to start shooting the bow and arrow seriously. Since then he has become a well-known traditional archer and bowyer .... Read More |
January
3, 2006 |
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Combretum
bows – built for Africa I met Johan van der Merwe about two years ago when he made a delivery to ABH&A’s offices for his wife, José. Johan expressed an interest in bowhunting and said he wanted to build .... Read More |
January
3, 2006 |
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From
rifle stock to atlatl After reading the article about the Atlatl in ABH&A and discussing this ancient weapon over a beer one evening, we wondered about its effectiveness as a weapon and hunting tool. Tolla Serfontein was the mastermind in the research and creation of his own Atlatl.... Read More |
October
28, 2005 |
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Hunting
a springhare I could not feel my legs. I was backed up against a giant ant heap occupied by trophy-size arachnophobia. I was not sure if it was a bird or a bushbuck I was stalking, although it was making too much noise to be a bushbuck. Actually, it was making too much noise to be a bird... Read More |
Sept
22, 2005 |
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Hunting
with bamboo-backed bow Not all bows are equal, that’s for sure. This is especially true for all-wooden bows. I was about to learn this through experience... Read More |
Sept
19, 2005 |
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Long
shot with a longbow The blesbok was standing in the shade of a thorn tree, in a gully. I had reached the end of the cover and could not move any closer. Slowly I stood up and stepped out from behind a Lavender Feverberrie tree, chose a spot on the animal, drew the longbow ... Read More |
Sept
19, 2005 |
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Wingshooting
with a bow – is it possible? The pointers were quivering with excitement. The sun was just above the horizon. The pheasant was right in front of one of the dogs and was sitting tight because of the Peregrine falcon we flew earlier. I nocked an arrow and moved closer ... Read More |
August
25, 2005 |
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Henk
du Plessis – bowyer and yeoman The name Henk du Plessis is synonymous with traditional archery in South Africa. Not only is Henk an excellent, if not the best longbow archer in the country, he also makes exceptionally fine and fast-shooting all-wooden bows. Henk is an excellent ... Read More |
August
25, 2005 |
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Searching
for the wild: A bowhunter in Africa Growing up in a remote part of rural Wisconsin, Mark fed his love for the outdoors and adventure on the likes of Hemingway's Green Hills of Africa, and Ruark's Horn of the Hunter. He was inspired by their stories of adventure on the plains of Africa, chasing after the great spiral horned antelope called the kudu. He vowed to one day... Read More |
July
20, 2005 |
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In
pursuit of the monarch The greater kudu is arguably one of the most regal and majestic of African animals. Wily and ever alert, it presents one of bowhunting's great challenges. Elegant and imposing, a kudu bull with long spiralling horns is one of the most sought-after trophies for any hunter ... Read More |
July
20, 2005 |
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Death
by atlatl – a mammoth task made easier Used as an adjective, “mammoth” refers to something of enormous size or scale, like a task. As a noun, “mammoth” is an elephant-like creature that roamed the regions of northern Eurasia and North America more than 40 000 years ago. Hunting animals ... Read More |
July
20, 2005 |
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Balad
of the flu-flu arrow Most of us have, at some stage or another, crossed paths with the flu-flu arrow. According to most writings, the flu-flu is made with an arrow fletched with three to four high-profile, five-inch long feathers. The written word also tells us that when an arrow is fletched in this manner, ... Read More |
July
20, 2005 |
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Bows,
arrows and archers of ancient north-Africa Africa, more specifically Egypt and Sudan (ancient Nubia), forms part of the Ancient Near East (ANE), which includes the geographical area covered by other modern states such as Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Syria, Lebanon and Turke ... Read More |
June
29, 2005 |
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Lighhouse
Marcello I think one of the sweetest adventures of life starts with the journey of traditional archery – shooting the longbow or recurve, or making your own gear, be it a bow, leather quiver or your own wooden arrows, and of course, making them fly! No matter how you look at it (or dream about it) – every facet of traditional ... Read More |
June
29, 2005 |
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The
Mongolian draw and the use of a thumbring The most difficult single action in archery is undoubtedly the act of drawing and releasing the string. The purpose of this action is to ensure consistency, accuracy and to inject the most energy into the arrow... Read More |
May
24, 2005 |
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Sterkrivier
traditional shoot - winners' advice Concentration is probably the most important component of traditional shooting, says Mush Nichols, recent winner of the traditional annual shoot held on Henk du Plessis’ farm at Sterkrivier... Read More |
May
24, 2005 |
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Stickbows
are catching on Is traditional archery growing in popularity in South Africa, and following the trend in the USA and Europe?... Read More |
February
8, 2005 |
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February
7, 2005 |
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Hunting
fowl with a traditional bow As the guinea fowl takes off with a flutter of wings, the archer takes aim and releases the arrow. When the arrow and the bird collides in mid-air, the bird folds up its wings and tumbles to the ground ... Read More |
Dec
23, 2004 |
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A
double handed bow of intrest At the traditional shoot that was recently held close to Pretoria I noticed a very interesting take-down recurve design. Without any adjustments the bow could be shot from the left or the right hand. ... Read More |
Dec
23, 2004 |
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Stretching
your bow’s life Many things can go wrong with a self-made wooden bow, especially if you are not one of the best bowyers in the country. You get good bowyers and bowyers of lesser excellence. I am none of two. I am at the” attempting to be a bowyer” fase ... Read More |
Dec
23, 2004 |
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Bow
Bender’s Shoot Traditional archery shoots are like the cool shade of very old trees. People from all walks of life come to seek refuge among and pay homage to the same shadows. They meet there to share a common ground: the lure of the traditional bow. ... Read More |
Dec
13, 2004 |
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Making
reinforced self nocks |
October
8, 2004 |
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Making
a Flemish Splice Bowstring In time the 25-year-old spare bowstring was dangerously worn. Now, living in a one horse desert town on the barren West coast of South Africa, the nearest city was almost 800 kilometres away, and finding a suitable bowstring for my now "second wife" posed a problem indeed...Read More |
Sept 30, 2004
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Setup
and tuning of recurves and longbows The visual differences between a com-pound, recurve and longbow are obvious. As one delves deeper into the mysterious world of archery physics, the differences become even more pronounced. Com-pound bows operate to a very different set of parameters... Read More |
August
27, 2004 |
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How
to build a laminating oven Before you make your own laminated bow, you need to build a laminating oven or heat box. This is not as daunting a task as it may sound, as most of the material you need is readily available ... Read More |
August
12, 2004 |
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Building
my first bow The first step was to find information, but with South Africa not being founded on the bow and arrow, but rather on black powder, ball and musket, an extensive bowyer’s history is virtually non-existent ... Read More |
August
10, 2004 |
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Birth of
a passion for Africa I sat still, quietly contemplating the events that I had experienced in less than one hour of hunting in South Africa. It was the first morning of my first African safari and I was spellbound by the incredible number of animals and species that we had already seen ...Read More |
July
30, 2004 |
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How to
make a footed arrow Apart from the character laden, vibrant life that wooden bows reflect, their undisputed track record is enriched with thousands of years of sending whispering "messengers of death" across countless battlefields all over the world. They have and forever will pass on the blend of traditional values and romance ...Read More |
July
29, 2004 |
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"Bowhunting
the Southern Roan" My previous hunt with Howard had been at his Tshipise property, which has somewhat of a different terrain. The camp at Alldays is nestled on top of a koppie and provides a panoramic view of the open plains in all directions ...Read More |
July
29, 2004 |
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Longbow
outpenetrates 2 compound bows It was April 2002 and I was competing in an archery competition. About halfway through one of the archers received a phone call from a local game rancher, who invited him to shoot a black wildebeest on his ranch ...Read More |
July
28, 2004 |
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Norsemen
Archery – a South African icon These difficulties introduced him to the good and bad characteristics of bows and readied him to start building his own bows from scratch. From here things could only improve ...Read More |
April
13, 2004 |
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The
traditional bow – a piece of youth’s freedom |
March
29, 2004 |
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‘The
all-wood bow still has a future’ My love for the bow-and-arrow began as a youngster when I found myself caught up in a world of adventure. Growing up in a little town with a river running through the property was awesome ...Read More |
March
29, 2004 |
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Just
another bow As I look at that particular bow hanging in my study I am overcome with an irresistible urge to reach out towards it. To feel the warm wood in my hands ...Read More |
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Odour Odour is probably the biggest problem a hunter has when stalking an animal. The best solution is to make sure that one is always downwind from the prey. This is by far your best bet. It may, however, happen that the wind direction changes while one is waiting in ambush for an animal, ...Read More |
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A hare's tale Cool was the breeze that lazily felt its way along the rocky coastline, gently being urged on by the icy currents of the Atlantic ocean. The late January midday sun of 1995 looked down upon the barren desert of the South African west coast and painted the landscape once again with passionate fury...Read More |
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Hemp backing Sinew is probably the best backing you can put on your bow. However, it isn’t always easy to get hold of. Hemp, on the other hand, is readily available from most hardware shops. And hemp makes a pretty good backing...Read More |
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Building
a bow Most traditional bow archers have probably considered crafting their own glass-laminated bow at one time or another. While it is undoubtedly a time-consuming task it is certainly not impossible ...Read More |
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Bowhunting and ethics “Give us a broad smile,” says the man behind the camera and the hunter complies while holding on tightly to the huge horns of the red hartebeest he has just taken down with his bow. “What a trophy!” he thinks, “It’s sure gonna impress ...Read More |
